PGA Tour Tips & Preview
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am 2021 Preview
Starts: 11th February 2021
Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links & Spyglass Hill CC
Par: Both 72
Length: 7,051 and 7,041 yards
2020 Champion: Nick Taylor
Course: Pebble Beach Golf Links & Spyglass Hill CC
Par: Both 72
Length: 7,051 and 7,041 yards
2020 Champion: Nick Taylor
Course Info
Course Designer: Pebble - Jack Neville/Douglas Grant. Spyglass - Robert Trent Jones Snr
Tournament played here since: 1947
Type of Course: Coastal
Fairways: Tight
Rough: Average
Greens: Poa Annua, 12 on the Stimp
Water Hazards: The sea is in play on a number of holes
Par 5's: 2nd, 6th, 14th and 18th on Pebble
Premium on: Approach play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This event is normally a pro-am with pros playing with amateur partners. However, due to Covid, amateurs will not take part this year. As such, the event will feature a 36 hole cut instead of 54 holes and only two courses (Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill) will be used rather than the usual three. The pros will play both courses over the first two days, with the final two rounds played at Pebble Beach.
The weather can make a significant difference. Pebble Beach is more exposed to the wind than Spyglass. Last year Spyglass averaged 0.877 shots over par for the week. Pebble averaged under par for the first three days but over par on the final day when the wind blew significantly.
With no amateurs we may see harder pin positions.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Cold, wet and windy! This is going to be a very interesting tournament from a weather perspective. Wind is currently forecast to be significant on the weekend.
Thursday: max 8mph winds forecast
Friday: max 12mph winds forecast
Saturday: max 18mph winds forecast
Sunday: max 18mph winds forecast
Trends
Winning Score: Has ranged from -17 to -19 over the past five years. Scoring is likely to be higher this year as Monterrey Peninsula Country Club is not being used and this is traditionally the easier of the three normal courses.
Price of Winner: We've had some big price winners here. Nick Taylor won last year when starting at 150/1+. Ted Potter Jr and Vaughn Taylor were shock winners in 2016 and 2018 also.
Correlating Courses: The Travelers Championship seems to throw up a number of players who perform well at both events. The courses are not alike so this may just be a coincidence. Look for success at other coastal venues (Sony, RBC Heritage, Puntacana, Mayakoba etc).
Course Form: The past 11 champions have all posted a top 21 finish here prior to winning. Ten of the 11 past champions posted a top 16 finish prior to winning. Side with strong course experience.
Recent Form: You don't need to be in blistering form to win. Although Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson won having recorded top 5 finishes earlier that season, three of the past five champions had not posted a top 30 finish in the calendar year prior to winning.
Nationality: Of the last 16 champions, only Nick Taylor's win last year prevents it from being a clean sweep of Americans.
Stats Analysis
With shotlink data only available for the rounds at Pebble Beach, we use more traditional stats.
Driving Accuracy: The last five winners have ranked 17th, 121st, 25th, 23rd and 82nd. Driving Accuracy preferred but not essential.
Driving Distance: Only one of the last five winners has ranked better than 60th in this category. Driving Distance is irrelevant.
Greens in Regulation: Three of the past five winners have ranked 8th, 8th, 19th, 3rd and 3rd. Approach play is key.
Scrambling: None of the past three winners have ranked better than 25th for Scrambling.
SG: Putting: The past five winners have ranked 2nd, 4th, 7th, 2nd and 3rd. Ability to putt well on Poa greens is crucial.
In-play
Tough Holes: The 18th hole at Pebble Beach was the hardest par 5 on the PGA Tour last year, and the par 5 first hole at Spyglass was the 2nd hardest par 5. In general, the 6th hole at Spyglass traditionally plays the hardest and the 8th at Pebble Beach.
Birdie Holes: Holes 7 and 17 on Spyglass and holes 2 and 6 on Pebble.
Closing Stretch: As mentioned, the 18th at Pebble is a really difficult hole and will be more so with a strong wind forecast. A par is no certainty on a Sunday.
Fast or Slow Start: Three of the last five champions have been 1st or 2nd after the first round. Ted Potter shot a 68 and was three off the pace in 2018. Vaughn Taylor shot 70 and was seven shots off the pace in 2016. Fast starts preferred.
Course Notes 2021
Draw Bias - There was no wind in round one which meant Pebble Beach played significantly easier than Spyglass Hillls. The wind was then up on Friday which meant Pebble played just as hard as Spyglass. You want to play Pebble when its calm.
Wind - Saturday was the windiest day and no one shot lower than 68.
High Quality Leaderboard. - Five of the six pre-event favourites - Cantlay, Berger, Casey, Spieth and Day were all within 3 of the lead heading into the final round.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in-play page*
Course Designer: Pebble - Jack Neville/Douglas Grant. Spyglass - Robert Trent Jones Snr
Tournament played here since: 1947
Type of Course: Coastal
Fairways: Tight
Rough: Average
Greens: Poa Annua, 12 on the Stimp
Water Hazards: The sea is in play on a number of holes
Par 5's: 2nd, 6th, 14th and 18th on Pebble
Premium on: Approach play
Significant Info To Be Aware Of
This event is normally a pro-am with pros playing with amateur partners. However, due to Covid, amateurs will not take part this year. As such, the event will feature a 36 hole cut instead of 54 holes and only two courses (Pebble Beach and Spyglass Hill) will be used rather than the usual three. The pros will play both courses over the first two days, with the final two rounds played at Pebble Beach.
The weather can make a significant difference. Pebble Beach is more exposed to the wind than Spyglass. Last year Spyglass averaged 0.877 shots over par for the week. Pebble averaged under par for the first three days but over par on the final day when the wind blew significantly.
With no amateurs we may see harder pin positions.
Continue to exercise caution in relation to Covid-19 related withdrawals.
Weather Forecast
Cold, wet and windy! This is going to be a very interesting tournament from a weather perspective. Wind is currently forecast to be significant on the weekend.
Thursday: max 8mph winds forecast
Friday: max 12mph winds forecast
Saturday: max 18mph winds forecast
Sunday: max 18mph winds forecast
Trends
Winning Score: Has ranged from -17 to -19 over the past five years. Scoring is likely to be higher this year as Monterrey Peninsula Country Club is not being used and this is traditionally the easier of the three normal courses.
Price of Winner: We've had some big price winners here. Nick Taylor won last year when starting at 150/1+. Ted Potter Jr and Vaughn Taylor were shock winners in 2016 and 2018 also.
Correlating Courses: The Travelers Championship seems to throw up a number of players who perform well at both events. The courses are not alike so this may just be a coincidence. Look for success at other coastal venues (Sony, RBC Heritage, Puntacana, Mayakoba etc).
Course Form: The past 11 champions have all posted a top 21 finish here prior to winning. Ten of the 11 past champions posted a top 16 finish prior to winning. Side with strong course experience.
Recent Form: You don't need to be in blistering form to win. Although Jordan Spieth and Phil Mickelson won having recorded top 5 finishes earlier that season, three of the past five champions had not posted a top 30 finish in the calendar year prior to winning.
Nationality: Of the last 16 champions, only Nick Taylor's win last year prevents it from being a clean sweep of Americans.
Stats Analysis
With shotlink data only available for the rounds at Pebble Beach, we use more traditional stats.
Driving Accuracy: The last five winners have ranked 17th, 121st, 25th, 23rd and 82nd. Driving Accuracy preferred but not essential.
Driving Distance: Only one of the last five winners has ranked better than 60th in this category. Driving Distance is irrelevant.
Greens in Regulation: Three of the past five winners have ranked 8th, 8th, 19th, 3rd and 3rd. Approach play is key.
Scrambling: None of the past three winners have ranked better than 25th for Scrambling.
SG: Putting: The past five winners have ranked 2nd, 4th, 7th, 2nd and 3rd. Ability to putt well on Poa greens is crucial.
In-play
Tough Holes: The 18th hole at Pebble Beach was the hardest par 5 on the PGA Tour last year, and the par 5 first hole at Spyglass was the 2nd hardest par 5. In general, the 6th hole at Spyglass traditionally plays the hardest and the 8th at Pebble Beach.
Birdie Holes: Holes 7 and 17 on Spyglass and holes 2 and 6 on Pebble.
Closing Stretch: As mentioned, the 18th at Pebble is a really difficult hole and will be more so with a strong wind forecast. A par is no certainty on a Sunday.
Fast or Slow Start: Three of the last five champions have been 1st or 2nd after the first round. Ted Potter shot a 68 and was three off the pace in 2018. Vaughn Taylor shot 70 and was seven shots off the pace in 2016. Fast starts preferred.
Course Notes 2021
Draw Bias - There was no wind in round one which meant Pebble Beach played significantly easier than Spyglass Hillls. The wind was then up on Friday which meant Pebble played just as hard as Spyglass. You want to play Pebble when its calm.
Wind - Saturday was the windiest day and no one shot lower than 68.
High Quality Leaderboard. - Five of the six pre-event favourites - Cantlay, Berger, Casey, Spieth and Day were all within 3 of the lead heading into the final round.
*As ever, follow our daily in-play updates and tips on our AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in-play page*
AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Pre-Event Bets
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We will be in full charge of the Telegram group and Premier Sports Plays will handle the payments and administrative functions, allowing us to focus on the golf.
You can sign up by clicking the button below.
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